Magnetic uncoupler for model railroad cars



Dec. 18, 1962 L. w. R058 3,06

MAGNETIC UNCOUPLER FOR MODEL RAILROAD CARS Filed Ju1y l8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Ler-oy W. Ross BY MHW y Dec. 18, 1962 F iled July 18, 1960 L. W. ROSS MAGNETIC UNCOUPLER FOR MODEL RAILROAD CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Ler oy W. Ross United States Patent Ofifice 3,069,023 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3,069,023 MAGNETIC UN COUPLER FOR MGDEL RAILRQAD CARS Leroy W. Ross, Coconut Grove, Fla. Filed July 18, 196i), Ser. No. 43,557 Claims. (Cl. 213-211) My invention relates to model railroad car couplers and is directed particularly to improvements in car couplers providing for automatic uncoupling by magnetic means upon pushing and then pulling the train when at a particular position along the track.

Various mechanisms for automatically disengaging or uncoupling model railroad cars when passing over trip-. ping mechanism of one kind or another located along a short section of track have heretofore been proposed. None has found widespread acceptance however for various reasons, principal among which are their unreliability in operation, their frequent mechanical failure and their comparatively high cost.

It is accordingly the principal object of my invention to provide an automatic uncoupling coupler for model trains which overcomes the deficiencies of prior uncoupling mechanisms.

A more particular object is to provide a magneticallyactuated uncoupling coupler that uncouples when a train is pushed to a positionwherein the coupler sought to be uncoupled is in alignment with magnet elements located along the track, and then reversed in direction to pull the forward uncoupled portion of the train away from the uncoupled cars. 7

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an automatic uncoupling coupler of the above nature which comprises a simple modification of the standard so-called NJVLRA. (National Model Railroad Association) coupler such as that sold under the trademark Varney manufactured by the Varney Corporation of Miami, Florida, and which can be supplied in kit form for modification of such couplers.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numbers denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

' pin 20- (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a coupler embodying the invention connecting cars, partially shown, being pulled to the right along a section of track,

FlGJZ is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view, in perspective, of a coupler according to the invention, showing constructional details thereof and the method of assembly to a model car,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the coupling mechanism in uncoupled or rest position just prior to coupling engagement,

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale, illustrating the interlocking engagement of the coupling mechanism when the cars are being pulled,

PEG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but illustrates operation of the coupling mechanism when the cars are being pushed, and

FIG. 7 illustrates in full lines the complete disengagement of the coupling mechanism 'when the cars are pushed to a section along the track in alignment with the uncoupling magnets, whereby the train will be uncoupled upon the engine being reversed to pull the cars forward.

Referring now in detail to the drawings C1 and C2 in FIG. 1 represent a pair of adjacent cars (partially shown) in a model train set, being pulled to the right along a track T by an engine (not illustrated). The cars C1 and (12 are coupled by a pair of identical couplers 10 embodying my invention. Each coupler 10 comprises an elongated pivot arm portion 11, formed with a journal pin opening 12 at one end and a body portion 13 at the other end. The body portion 13 of each coupler is provided at one side with a recess 14 in the general form of a parallelogram defined at the outer end of said body portion by a hook portion 15. The hook portion 15 of each coupler 10 is integrally formed with an outwardlyextending arcuate portion presenting, together with the outer surface of said hook portion, a substantially smooth outer surface 16 inclined with respect to said elongated pivot arm portion 11, for the purpose hereinafter appearmg.

Each coupler 10 has also integrally formed therewith an abutment portion 17 disposed in spaced relation below the recess 14 formed in the body portion 13 thereof, said abutment portion providing a substantially rectangular, flat, outwardly-directed abutment surface 18, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The cars C1 and C2 are provided with means for journalling couplers It) at each end. .For this purpose, the underside of each car is molded or otherwise formed at each end with a rectangular draft box 19 within which is centrally formed a short, outwardly-extending journal A coupler 10 is loosely fitted on each journal pin 21?. Also fitted on each journal pin 20 beneath each coupler 10 is a torsion spring 21 having one arm 22 in abutting relation against one outside corner of its draft box 19, and the opposite arm 23 in abutting relation against the outside of the body portion 13 of its coupler 10, i.e., the side opposite the recess 14 therein (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 7). Each spring 21, being under torsional compression, normally urges its coupler It) in the counter-clockwise direction, as seen from the top as in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. A rectangular draft box cover 24 cemented or otherwise fixed over each car draft box 19 holds the couplers 10 and springs 21 in assembled relation.

So much of the couplers it} as has hereinabove been described is fabricated of a non-magnetic material, and is preferably integrally molded of a synthetic plastic.

Referring first to FIG. 4, showing the couplers 10 of adjacent cars at rest position, it will be apparent that upon pushing the cars together, the arcuate portions 16 of said couplers will slide along each other until the hook portions fall into interengagement.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be apparent that when the hook portions 15 of the couplers 10 of adjacent cars are interengaged they Will normally be constrained in such interengagement by the action of the torsion springs 21, and the cars will thus normally remain coupled as the car train is pulled along the track. If the car train should be pushed backwardly, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the coupiers 11 by virtue of the arcuate portions 16 thereof sliding against the inclined inner surfaces of the parallelogram recesses 14 thereof, would only be able to swing open against the resiliency of the torsion springs 21 bydisengagement of the couplers 14 when in partially open pushing" condition as illustrated in FIG. 6, and when the train is then stopped and reversed in direction at a particular position along the track. To this end, each coupler It) has secured thereto in downwardly and outwardly-extending relation to the underside of the body portion 13 thereof, a magnetic member 25. The magnetic member 25 may conveniently be made of a soft iron wire which is molded, cemented or otherwise secured in the body portion 13' of each coupler 10, and which has a short, downwardly-extending portion 26 and a comparatively longer outwardly and downwardly inclined portion 27 terminating in a somewhat enlarged end portion 28 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the magnetic members 25 extend outwardly in such direction that their enlarged end portions 28 lie substantially along a common line perpendicular with the direction of train travel. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnetic actuating means also comprises a pair of bar magnets 29, 3t fixed at each side at one position along the track in spaced parallel disposition, the magnets preferably being mutually reversed in polarity and in close disposition to the outsides of the rails of the tracks T.

Referring now to FIG. 7 and considering the operation of the magnetic uncoupler comprising the invention, it will be noted that when the cars are pushed backwardly along the track (as indicated by the broken line arrow in FIG. 7 and the broken line representation of the couplers 10) to a position where the magnetic members are substantially in register with one end or the other of the bar magnets 29, 3t), magnetic attraction will pull upon said members 25 and swing the couplers It in the clockwise direction against the weaker force of the reacting torsion springs 21. Thus the couplers will be completely disengaged as illustrated by the full line representation thereof in FIG. 7, and subsequent pulling away of the forward car as illustrated by the solid line arrow in EEG. 7 will separate the cars. It is to be noted however that if the train is backed past the actuating magnets 29, 39, Without stopping, however slowly, the frictional interengagement of the abutting surfaces 18 of the couplers It) will be suificient to prevent sliding sideward separation thereof, and consequent interference with normal operation.

While I have described herein only one form in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is presented by way of example only, and not in a limiting sense. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a magnetically-actuated uncoupling coupler for model railroad cars, the combination comprising a pivot arm member having means at one end for swingably connecting to the draft box of a model car, a body portion integrally formed at the other end of said pivot arm member, a recess formed in one side of said body portion, said recess being defined at the outer end of said body portion by an inwardly-directed hook portion, resilient means urging said pivot arm member in the direction outwardly of said recess in said body portion, and an elongated magnetic member secured to and extending downwardly and outwardly of said body portion in the direction opposite said recess therein and adapted to be magnetically attracted by a permanent magnet positioned along the outside of a section of train track, whereby when a pair of adjacent cars coupled by said couplers being in complementary hooking engagement are pushed to a position in alignment with a pair of opposed magnets positioned along the outsides of a section of train track said hook portions will be moved into relatively unhooked engagement to allow outward swinging and uncoupling of said couplers upon the outward attraction of said magnet members in the direction of their respective trackside magnets.

2. A magnetically-actuated uncoupling coupler for model railroad cars as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnet member is in the form of a length of ferrous metal wire having an enlarged outer end portion.

3. A magnetically-actuated uncoupling coupler for model railroad cars as defined in claim 1 wherein said body portion is integrally formed with an abutment portion disposed in spaced relation below said recess, said abutment portion providing a substantially rectangular, flat, outwardly-directed abutment surface, whereby when the adjacent cars are pushed, the coupler abutment surfaces will contact each other after said hook portions are moved into relatively unhooked engagement, the sliding frictional resistance of said abutting surfaces being sufiicient to prevent the attractive movement of said magnetic members by said magnets when said cars are continuously pushed past said magnets.

4. In a conversion kit for model railroad car couplers of the type comprising a pivot arm member having means at one end for swingably connecting to the draft box of a model car, a body portion integrally formed at the other end of said pivot arm member, a recess formed in one side of said body portion, said recess being defined at the outer end of said body portion by an inwardly-directed hook portion; the combination comprising a length of ferrous metal wire bent to provide a first portion adapted to be secured at its outer end to the underside of said body portion to extend downwardly therefrom and a second portion extending at an obtuse angle from said first portion and adapted to be directed away from said recess in said body portion, said second portion being longer than said first portion, and a magnet for placement along a section of train track for magnetically attracting the outer end portion of said second portion of said bent metal wire.

5. A conversion kit for model railroad couplers as defined in claim 4 wherein the outer end of said second portion of said bent wire is of enlarged form to provide for greater magnetic attraction.

Bailey Jan. 13, 1959 Anderson Apr. 19, 1960 

